The government and private companies will install 500 wind turbines off the country’s west coast with a total capacity of 2,500 megawatts, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in an e- mailed statement today.

The nation joins China, Denmark, the U.S. and other countries in developing offshore wind farms. Global offshore wind power capacity totals 2.9 gigawatts, with 2.6 gigawatts under construction and about 154 gigawatts planned or proposed, according to the ministry.

The wind farms will give South Korean companies that want to export equipment and facilities a chance to build up experience and access to technology, the ministry said.

The ministry plans to install a 100-megawatt test farm by 2013. A 900-megawatt park is planned by 2016 and the ministry wants to add 1,500 megawatts of further capacity by 2019.